Appeal after rioting teenagers go on rampage

By Deborah McAleese

Parents were today urged to take more control of their children in a bid to stamp out recreational rioting following last night's disturbances in west Belfast.

Petrol bombs, brick and boulders were thrown at police by youths in the New Barnsley area during several hours of disturbances. Four teenagers who were arrested have been released pending reports to the PPS.

Police and community representatives worked together to restore calm after the trouble broke out at the junction of the Ballygomartin Road and Springmartin Road. Young people also put up a barricade, blocking the Mountain Road.

Police came under attack when they tried to reduce tensions after groups of youths threw stones and bottles at each other on the Ballygomartin Road.

Chief Superintendent Gary White said: "One of the particularly disturbing things about this was that a number of the people arrested were juveniles.

"A large number of the people involved in this were 13 and 14 years of age. That is worrying."

Calm was restored to the area at about 11.30pm.

Several police vehicles were damaged during the unrest. There were no reports of any injuries.

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